Hello All !
Iam getting confused now....hubby needs to move towards Reading area for work. I worked through the times online parent power list and zeroed down on the Reading area as DD will need a grammar soon and DS will need a primary soon. However now that I am on this forum, realised a lot many things e.g.Slough grammar not part of the times list because it offers IB. Also realised that there are more grammar school options in Slough area than Reading area - so since hubby can travel to Reading from Slough easily, wondering whether it is 'safer ' to move to Slough and maximise chances of a grammar entry ? Please help !! Is there something Iam missing ?

Both Reading Boys and Kendrick base their selection criteria on an entrance test. Reading Boys has a catchment, but it is quite broad - you don't have to live particularly close to the school. However, competition for both schools is very fierce - even if your child is very clever you cannot count on getting a place. There are typically 5 or 6 applicants (almost all are bright) for every place, so, whilst you can prepare to maximise your chance, it is still a bit of a lottery and can come down to a silly mistake or correct guess. It's different, for example, to the Medway grammars where around 20% of children get in - I think it's more like top 4 or 5%.

I believe the Slough schools are easier to get into, but not something I've personally gone through.

What Mudskipper has said is accurate. Kendrick don't have a catchment, but Reading Boys does approx 10mile radius.

Whilst Slough Grammar's don't. If you are a practicing Roman Catholic then you also have the option of St Bernards Grammar, also in Slough (not sure of their catchment requirements though).

Further detailed information can be found regarding these schools in the stickys at the top of this forum and here for Berks grammars and here for Bucks grammars

Langley last year had approx 1100+ children applying for the 145 places.

In addition to catchment, different schools sit different 11+ tests. RGS have VR (verbal reasoning) or NVR(non), Maths and English multiple choice tests. Kendrick have VR and NVR standard tests. Slough grammars have VR and NVR multiple choice. If you move to certain parts of Maidenhead, you can also then consider Bucks grammar John Hampden, where your child will have to sit two VR tests and the best of both will be the eventual allocated score.

The grammars are a good choice but not guaranteed, therefore playing it safe I would also, if in your position, look into a fallback option. Either an Independent or good Secondary State schools near by.

You could also look at the Bucks grammars.....as the commute from South Bucks would be the same as from Slough.

At the moment none of the 4 Slough grammars have a catchment. although there is mention of Herschel (so possibly all the consortium - Langley, Herschel & St Bernards) considering having some sort of catchment.
St Bernards are also in talk with St Josephs reference a 'merger' which would provide all round Catholic education and therefore no selection!!!!

Pupils come from a wide area to the Slough grammars.....we are from Windsor and I do know pupils from Datchet, Iver,Staines, Egham, Greenford, Hounslow etc.

I am not 'in the know' about any of the Bucks grammars but I am sure if you post under the Bucks forum they would be able to help out on the ones that are within a good travelling distance of Reading...... Burnham Grammar is just off the M4.

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